Cosmic Christmas

Luke 2:8–20 NLT

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

Introduction: Do you Believe in Angels? I had a friend who told me a story of doing some rock climbing, and she got stuck was about to fall, and physically felt someone pushing her up to save her. After she got up she looked back and no one was there. She wondered, do you think that was an Angel? Angels are a part of the Christmas Story, and they show up all over scripture

Today, as we wrap up our series on the characters of Christmas, we’re are going to look at these unique characters, Angels. They play such an important role that numerous Christmas carols celebrate their presence. Carols such as “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” “Angels We Have Heard on High,” and “It Came upon the Midnight Clear” all celebrate the same thing: the angelic choir announcing the birth of Jesus. So the direction we’re looking today is up, as we learn about the angels and the part they played in the Christmas story.

20-What and who are Angels from Heaven?

1. Angels have been present in all the prior stories we’ve learned about during Advent. In the first week, we saw that an angel appeared to Zechariah to tell him that his prayers for a son had been heard (Luke 1:13); an angel told Mary she was going to give birth to God’s Son (Luke 1:30); and an angel told Joseph that it was okay for him to marry Mary (Matthew 1:20). Finally, it was angels who appeared to the shepherds to announce that the Messiah had been born (Luke 2:9, 13). This is because angels are the messengers of God. The Greek word for angel, aggelos, means “a messenger” (Strong’s Greek Lexicon [KJV], s.v. “G32, aggelos,” https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G32&t=KJV). So it makes sense that at such an important time in history, God would send his messengers all over to proclaim the good news of Jesus’s birth.

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22 - So to Summarize Angels are

Supranatural beings created by God.

They are messengers who live in God’s Space normally.

They tend to look like humans.

They are called to bear reflect God’s glory in the heavenly Space.

And they often sent by God on for assignments that help believers. (including proclaiming a message, or giving instruction on behalf of God, and fight spiritual battles on behalf of God’s Kingdom.)

Hebrews 1:14 LEB

Are they not all spirits engaged in special service, sent on assignment for the sake of those who are going to inherit salvation?

In this passage they are doing just that. They are sent to the Shepherds with the message about the Good News that the Messiah/King Jesus was born and Jesus’ birth is good news because He will bring peace in the earthly realm for those who are going to inherit salvation. (given God’s grace/saved by Grace).

And So, this is good news...

24 - Christmas is Good News for Heaven.

1. - We have seen God’s salvation is for all kinds of people, poor, powerful, elderly, young, etc...

- There is very much an earthly, from the dirt nature to Christmas. - Firmly rooted in the world.

- But the presence of angels also tells us that the Christmas story is supranatural and supernatural!

-It is Cosmic - Angels show us God’s desire to re-unite Heaven and Earth - Angels keep showing up to earthly creatures.

The presence of these angels in the Christmas story calls our attention to the birth of a king! God’s entering the world in human form changed everything. There has never been anything like it in history, and there never will be again. So we see angels going all over, doing the bidding of God, preparing the way for the Lord to enter into his kingdom in the flesh. While the king of the world (the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus) was moving people around for his census (Luke 2:1–2), the King of the universe was putting the pieces into place for his quiet entry. But the heavenly host could not hold back their excitement, and when the moment came, as is fitting in the presence of the most powerful and glorious of all kings, a host of angels took over the night sky and sang, “Glory to God in the highest” (Luke 2:14) over the birth of the Messiah.

1. The unfolding of God’s salvation plan is something that heaven had been waiting with bated breath to see unfold. The apostle Peter writes of this in his first letter, when he says, “It was revealed to [the prophets] that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look” (1 Peter 1:12). The Greek word translated as “long” verse 12 is epithymeō. This is a word that conveys a powerfully strong desire. Strong’s says the word means to “set the heart upon” something or someone (Strong’s Greek Lexicon [KJV], s.v. “G1937, epithymeō,” https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1937&t=KJV). In this case, the angels had set their hearts on seeing the birth of Jesus. God’s salvation plan, the Christmas story, isn’t some worn-out story that we have to sit and listen to every year. It’s exciting! It’s fresh! It’s always new. It is so amazing even the angels in heaven couldn’t wait to see it happen! Heaven was excited about Christmas! What about you?

Breakdown their message.

The Good News is for all the people - This is the prompt the Angels are giving the Shepherds, - Share it with everyone.

The Good news is the Story of Jesus, and that Story begins with Jesus’ Birth. The Rest of Scripture fills out what this part of the story means for us. That Jesus, the Son of God, being the Very Nature God (ie eternal God, one of the three persons of God), came to earth as a Human. - He came to be King over all things in Heaven and Earth, to unite Heaven and Earth. His Humanity reminds us that he identifies with us and saves all aspects of humanity.

Glory to God - The Angels job is to reflect God’s Glory in the heavenly realm, and we are to do so on earth.

They proclaim peace - This is what Jesus will do on the Cross, making humans who were enemies with God to be at peace with God (reconciliation) Uniting Heaven and Earth.

And it will not be applied to every human, just those who receive God’s Grace.

These few sentences is the good news the Angels share that is meant for everyone and so..

25 - Being on the Same Team with Angels.

1. Based on the reaction of the angels in front of the shepherds, and Peter’s observations about them, we know that Jesus’s birth was truly good news of great joy for all—including the angelic host!

-God was showing us his love towards humans.

- During Christmas we often focus on ourselves.

- But what can we do this Christmas to show how important the Christmas story is for all people? What can we do for others/

- The Christmas message of God’s grace entering the world should absolutely be celebrated, but even more important than that is what the angels show us: the message needs to be delivered to everyone, no matter who they are or where they live. We are on the Same Team, This Cosmic Team that extends into the depths of the earth into the highest of heavens.

Examples:

Operation Christmas Child

Barnabas

Call, visit, send a card, bring food, volunteer at Love

Opportunities at Family Night.

Hannah thanking me for when the last bill for her last semester was paid for, debt free.

I told her the joy she doesn’t realize it gave me. - Part of My personal mission statement.

But it was also a team sport - Scholarships she earned, Grandparents who helped, College Fund Saving that Cindy and I engaged in, Financial Management on everyone’s part, Coaching, Friends encouragement, etc.

This is what I imagine is a similar perspective the Angels have. They get to be a part of the restoration of God’s creation in their role.

They do it because they are grateful for even existing because of God.

Because they experience the Goodness and Love of God through their very existence.

So they want to bring God Joy, and Glory by serving him, by serving his lost creatures here on earth.

They burst out in Joy by this message.

We are then partners by....

Receiving the Grace of God that the Angels proclaim - Will you receive it?

By extending the Angel’s impact by sharing their good news to all people.

By Rejoicing with them when God has been Glorified, (specifically when people are saved).

Conclusion: